Question of the Day

Did illegal voters swing any congressional races?

Canadians threaten Latin summit shutout

QUEBEC CITY A representative of Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien threatened yesterday to take the extraordinary step of excluding countries deemed to be undemocratic from the upcoming Summit of the Americas.Marc Lortie, Mr. Chretien's representative for the April 20-22 summit in Quebec City, said countries like Peru, Paraguay, Haiti and Ecuador could be excluded due to some recent upheavals in those nations."In recent months, democratic issues have been put into question in certain locations," Mr. Lortie told a news conference."They have to know that respect for democratic rights and the rule of law are the heart of our initiative … and if they don't respect this there will be consequences like not being able to participate in the summit."

Chile to press U.S. on CIA informant

SANTIAGO, Chile The Chilean government said yesterday it will ask Washington for more details of a report claiming the head of the South American nation's secret police was a paid CIA informant during the regime of former dictator Augusto Pinochet.Foreign Minister Soledad Alvear, referring to a report to the U.S. Congress that revealed last week the CIA had contacts with Manuel Contreras, head of Gen. Pinochet's feared DINA, said a diplomatic note will be sent to the United States in the coming days."We are going to send … a note to the U.S. government in a bid to attempt to clear up some situations," Miss Alvear said at a news conference.

Cyprus talks end without progress

NEW YORK U.N. talks to reunify Cyprus ended yesterday with no clear sign of an easing of the conflict that has kept ethnic Turks and Greeks estranged on the island for decades.Secretary-General Kofi Annan wrapped up the 14-day consultations after separate meetings with President Glafcos Clerides, the Greek Cypriot leader, and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.A further round of talks is scheduled Nov. 1-10 in Geneva.Summing up the talks, which have been held under a media blackout but marred by selective leaks, U.N. special adviser Alvaro de Soto said there was still a long way to go before a substantive breakthrough.

Taleban declares 95 percent control

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan Afghanistan's ruling Taleban declared yesterday that recent military gains have put 95 percent of the country under its control, and reiterated that it was time the movement received Afghanistan's U.N. seat."The Taleban have freed regions one by one," Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef, the Taleban's ambassador to Pakistan, said at a news conference. "The opposition is psychologically weak and has lost its morale."The Taleban has captured a series of northeastern towns and villages over the past month, and has advanced to the border with Tajikistan in some areas.

Ivorian junta says coup plotters flee

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast Two members of Ivory Coast's military junta dismissed from the government have fled after being implicated in an assassination attempt on military ruler Gen. Robert Guei, a junta statement said yesterday.It said that soldiers arrested in connection with the attack had said Gens. Lassana Palenfo and Abdoulaye Coulibaly, respectively No. 2 and 3 of the junta, were behind it."Having measured the seriousness of their acts and realized the mistake they had made, these two officers, generals, have fled," said a statement by the National Public Salvation Committee (CNSP) read on state television.

U.N. aide fears West Africa blowup

MONROVIA, Liberia A top U.N. human rights official voiced concern yesterday over the tensions engulfing three neigboring West African countries Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.Assistant High Commissioner Soren Jessen-Petersen of the U.N. High Commission on Human Rights (UNHCR) warned of "an explosion with devastating consequences" within the Mano River Union, a customs and economic grouping of the three countries.His visit was part of a tour that has also taken him to Sierra Leone and Guinea.

Ivory Coast junta rejects vote delay

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast Ivory Coast's military junta yesterday rejected proposals by African leaders to delay a presidential election in an effort to defuse political tensions.A delegation of seven heads of state held talks in Abidjan Monday with army ruler Gen. Robert Guei and the country's main political parties.The delegation, led by Togolese President Gnassingbe Eyadema, who is the current chairman of the Organization of African Unity, recommended that a presidential vote due on Oct. 22 be delayed by four months and a parliamentary vote be held first.

Greek ferry sinks; at least 28 die

ATHENS The death toll from the sinking of a Greek ferry off the Aegean holiday island of Paros rose to 28 with 52 persons still missing, the Greek Merchant Marine Ministry said early today.

An official said 430 persons had been rescued and accounted for after the ferry Express Samina ran aground and sank late yesterday in gale-force conditions.

A member of the coast guard also died of a heart attack during the nighttime rescue operation.

The ministry said 510 passengers and crew were on the ferry when it ran aground, one less than earlier announced.